BASEL (AWP/SDA) – Art Basel commenced on Tuesday, welcoming VIP guests to the prestigious art fair. Organized by the MCH trade fair group, the event aims to thrive despite the evolving art market conditions.

Featuring 289 galleries from 42 countries, Art Basel 2025 maintains its position as a leading global art fair. The fair is adapting to a market that experienced a 12 percent downturn last year, according to the Art Market Report of Art Basel and UBS, with the high-price sector being notably affected.

Art Basel Director Maike Cruse remains optimistic, noting that auction houses experienced a 25 percent decline, while galleries saw a smaller decrease of 6 percent, according to the Keystone-SDA news agency.

Market Trends and Global Interest

“Although the market acts more selective, but high -quality works at the right price are still very interested,”

“Although the market acts more selective, but high -quality works at the right price are still very interested,” said Cruse. “Our trade fair in Basel is the place where work at the highest level and accordingly also high -priced work is offered, as here the galleries find the corresponding customers.”

Cruse added that feedback from collectors and museum representatives remains strong, with growing interest from Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Art Basel plans to expand to Qatar, aiming to capitalize on the growing market in the Middle east. “In the long term, Qatar will ensure that we also welcome new collector layers in Basel”, similar to the impact of art offshoots in Miami Beach and Hong Kong, said Cruse.

The Art Basel Director also acknowledged the Art Market Report’s findings of market growth in the lower-price sector, with works priced under $5,000. While the fair includes works at various price points, Cruse stated, “But we do not choose the galleries according to the price segment, but according to the quality of their presentations.”

Side Fairs and Discoveries

Traditional side fairs also anticipate benefiting from current market trends. “This is the time for us to shine,” said Lee Cavaliere, artistic director of Volta Art Fair, celebrating its 20th anniversary, speaking to the Keystone-SDA news agency.

Cavaliere hopes the Volta Art Fair has found a permanent location at the Basel Congress Center, near Art Basel, hosting over 70 galleries from 29 countries.

The list of art fairs, which moved from the Warteck winding room in 2021, features 99 galleries from 32 countries. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the fair welcomes German art historian Nikola Dietrich as its new artistic director.

As head of the non-profit fair, Dietrich emphasizes artistic content over market prospects.”the list is a place where the half -baked and unruly space can also be found,” she stated, highlighting the fair’s focus on contemporary art in a constantly evolving habitat.

art Basel will open to the public on Thursday. The ART FAIR list held its public vernissage on Monday, while the Volta Art Fair opens on Thursday.